What does hr do?
What do Human Resources professionals do? It seems to be a funny question to ask, however; most people really don’t know.
There was a time when Human Resources was referred to as ‘Personnel’. Employees knew that the ‘personnel lady’ would answer questions about pay and benefits, and help order supplies that were needed. Today, Human Resources is so much more than that.
The most important functions that HR professionals perform today are (1) Linking organization’s management to their employees, (2) Compliance - meaning serving as a consultant on employment law issues, and (3) Strategic Planning. Some may ask, what about payroll and benefits? Yes, those are part of an HR portfolio but are nicely managed online through technology and benefit carrier support help lines.
*Linking organization’s management to their employees is… CULTURE. We hear a lot about culture, but in its simplest form, it really is the connection between manager and worker. HR professionals are the funnels that catch all of the needs, wants, complaints, and hates of the employee population. A good HR professional usually knows exactly what is going on at all times. They take that information, analyze it, and put it into a palatable format for leadership. HR makes recommendations for making improvements and sunsetting those things that are not working.
*Compliance is huge in the HR world. Federal, state, and local employment laws are plentiful in today’s working world. So are lawsuits and EEOC complaints. HR professionals are the gatekeepers of the legality of an organization’s policies and practices. There is always a reason why HR will recommend something is or isn’t said or done; and it’s usually due to compliance.
*Strategic Planning is a skillset pretty new to HR professionals. With a seat at the boardroom table, HR professionals are now part of the strategic planning process. How and when to grow, how and when to reduce staff, retention propositions, merger & acquisition due diligence, leadership development, etc. Organizations are finally asking the ‘people professionals’ how to do it.